NIB-Based Control of Shared Network Switching Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network management systems struggle to provide scalable, mobile, and multi-tenant solutions for large networks, particularly in the context of Software-Defined Networking (SDN), as they often require extensive network knowledge and cannot effectively isolate and manage different users' logical datapaths on shared switching elements.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a network information base (NIB) data structure to virtualize control of shared switching elements, providing different views of the network state to users and ensuring isolation through a hierarchical data structure, with applications like nLog for automated mapping and a distributed network operating system (NOS) to manage and propagate changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If network configurations are managed through low-level configuration of individual components, then network control is achievable, but network management complexity increases and scalability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network information base (NIB) as an intermediary data structure that sits between the control application and the switching elements. The NIB abstracts the complex network state into a standardized format, allowing control applications to manage networks at a higher level without directly configuring individual switching elements. This mediator layer simplifies network management operations while hiding the underlying complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the network control system into distinct functional layers: control applications, the NIB data structure, and switching elements. This segmentation allows each layer to operate independently with well-defined interfaces, improving manageability and reducing overall system complexity. The NIB specifically segments the network state representation from the physical switching infrastructure.
2Productivity
If shared switching elements are used across multiple users, then resource utilization improves, but user isolation and security deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies of switching elements through the NIB data structure. Each user sees a virtualized view of the network state tailored to their needs, while the physical switching elements remain shared. This copying approach allows multiple users to simultaneously access and control network resources with proper isolation, as each user interacts with their own virtual representation rather than directly with shared physical hardware.
3Ease of operation
If network state visibility is provided to control applications, then management decision making improves, but information security and user privacy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different control applications with customized views of the NIB based on their specific needs and authorization levels. Rather than giving all applications full visibility into the entire network state, each application receives only the portion of network information necessary for its function. This selective information disclosure maintains security while enabling effective management decisions.
Data Source
AI summary
A network control system that includes several controllers for managing several switching elements. Each controller includes a network information base (NIB) storage that stores data regarding the switching elements and a secondary storage for facilitating replication of at least a portion of data across the NIB storages of the different controllers. In some embodiments, the primary purpose for one or more of the secondary storage structures is to back up the data in the NIB. In these or other embodiments, one or more of the secondary storage structures serve a purpose other than backing up the data in the NIB. In some embodiments, the NIB is stored in system memory while the system operates for fast access of the NIB records. In some embodiments, one or more of the secondary storage structures are stored on disks which can be slower to access.